Pocket key case assembly



June 4, 1963 w. 'r. MOWHIRTER POCKET KEY CASE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 20. 1961 0 I 7 ll l Fag-3 INVENTOR. WAYNE. T MCWHHZTEFZ MW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,692,244 POCKET KEY CASE ASSEMBLY Wayne T. McWhirter, 5025 N. 64th Ave., Glendale, Arlz. Filed Oct. Zll, 1961, Ser. No. 146,632. ll (Illaim. (Cl. 206-33) This invention relates to a novel pocket key case assembly.

The primary object of the invtntion is the provision of a simple, compact, and versatile device of the kind indicated, which is devised, especially but not exclusively for use by military servicemen and others, and is adapted to be carried in the pocket or to be clipped, when desired, onto a support, such as a pocket or blouse edge or flap, by means of a clip, the clip serving to protect a mirror surface on one side of the case of the device, while another mirror surface on the opposite side of the case is exposed for use, the clip being reversible to expose the protected mirror surface upon impairment of the originally exposed mirror surface, the device being adapted to protectively contain small but essential objects, such as keys, coins, postage stamps, and the like, and being capable of being made water and weatherproof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above, which incorporates a writing pencil, which is fixed in the case of the device and has an external writing point which is adjustable for extending and retracting the lead of the pencil.

Other import-ant objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent tnom the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention, showing the cover in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, on a slightly enlarged scale, of the opposite side of the device and showing the cover in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like par-ts throughout the several views, the illustrated device comprises a flat, rectangular, vertically elongated case it), preferably of light weight material such as aluminum. The case ll) could, however, be of some other desirable shape and material.

The case is hollow, has an open upper end 12, and is closed, at its lower end, by a bottom wall 14. The case has first and second side walls 16 and 18, respectively, and first and second end walls 20 and 22, respectively. The end walls are preferably .arcuate, or rounded where they meet the side walls and the bottom wall. The outer surfaces of the side walls 16 and 18 are polished to provide first and second mirrors 24 and 2.6, respectively, and the surfaces of the mirrors are preferably outset from the remainders of the side walls.

The second end Wall 22 is of enlarged cross section, as shown in FIGURE 4, and is formed with an upwardly tapered bore 28, in which is inserted, and secured, in suitable manner, a mechanical lead pencil 30 having a barrel 12. The upper end of the pencil barrel 32 is engaged with a shoulder 33 between the bore .28 and a reduced diameter counterbore 34. The lower end of the pencil barrel 32 is formed with an enlarged diameter collar 36 which is press-fitted in the lower part of the bore 28. The pencil 30 has a rounded, relatively short knob-like blunt rotatable point 38, on the lower end of its barrel 32. This form of point 38 presents no hazards of injury to hands or to such as pocket linings, and the like, and is a safety feature, and has a writing lead 40 extending therethrough. The point 38 is rotatable to extend and retract the lead 40, by any suitable means (not shown) of which conventional forms are available.

The counterbore 34 opens, at its upper end, through the concave arcuate bottom 42 of a notch 44 formed in the upper end of the second end wall 22, which serves as a receiver for a disc 46 on the inner end of a cover 48. The counterbore 34 enables punching the pencil out of the bore 28 whenever its replacement is indicated. The cover 48 is preferably in the form of .a bar of semi-cylindrical cross section, on whose fiat underside 5d a reduced width rib 52 is provided, which, as shown in FIGURE 5, fits into the open upper end of the case 10, when the cover is closed. The disc 46 bears, at its sides, against the sidewalls 54 of the notch 44 and is traversed by an axial pivot pin 56, whose ends are engaged in openings 58 in upstanding semi-circular cars 59 on the case side walls. A reclining L-shaped spring catch 66* has a hori- Zontal longitudinal portion 62 secured, as indicated at 64, to the underside of the rib 52, and a pendant portion 66 which is located outwardly beyond the free end of the cover 48 and has an outpressed detent knob 68 which engages in a detent recess 70 in the inner surface of the first case end wall 20, to hold the cover in its closed position. The free end of the cover 43 extends slightly beyond the first end wall 20, as indicated at 72 in FIG- URE 4, to provide finger purchase for swinging the cover to open position.

The case 10 is provided with a flat spring clip 74 of mutilated L-shaped form, which comprises a channel cross section foot portion 76, of substantial length, and a tongue 78, on one side of the foot portion, which has a laterally outwardly and longitudinally bowed upper portion 80, which terminates in a laterally outwardly curved terminal 82. The tongue 78 is preferably about two-thirds of the height of the case 10, and the foot portion 76 about half the width of the case. The clip 74 is reversibly mounted on the bottom wall 14 of the case, with the tongue 78 extending upwardly, the foot portion 76 being engaged over the bottom wall 14, with a headed screw 84 extending centrally therethrough and threaded into the bottom wall. In the drawings, the clip 74- is shown mounted with its tongue 78 protectively extending across the first mirror 24, with the bow of the terminal 82 engaged therewith. The tongue 78 thereby prevents contacts With the first mirror 24 which would otherwise scratch or otherwise injure the surface thereof, while the second mirror 26 is exposed for use. When the second mirror 26 becomes unserviceable due to being scratched or otherwise marred, the clip 74 can be reversed on the case 10 to expose the first mirror 24.

As indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 4, objects such as a key 86 and a coin 88 can be securely and protectively carried in the case 10. The cover 48 can be made to fit closely in the open top of the case so as to exclude dust and dirt, and can be provided with a gasket (not shown) which would render the device weather and waterproof.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being Within the scope of the invention as defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising a flat hollow case having an open end, said case having first and second side walls, first and second end walls, and a top wall, a cover closing said lower end, and a spring clip mounted externally on said top wall and having a tongue extending downwardly along and bearing against the outer surface of a side wall, one of said end walls being formed with a bore opening through said bottom wall, and a pencil having a barrel fixed in said bore and having a Writing tip extending below said top wall, said end wall being said second end wall, and a cover hinged at one end on said second end Wall for closing the open end of the case, said second end wall having a notch in its lower end and the case side walls having pendant ears at opposite sides of the notch, said cover having a disc at said one end engaged in the notch and between said ears, and a pivot pin extending axially 5 2,558,265

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 213,406 Farrell Mar. 18, 1879 1,222,948 Hawthorne Apr. 17, 1917 1,494,242 Hill May 13, 1924 1,718,400 Baarsgard June 25, 1929 1,966,123 Jones July 10, 1934 Mosch June 26, 1951 

